We recently read in Variety that former "Black Flag" front man (and relentless self-promoter) Henry Rollins will host a movie review show on the Independent Film Channel.
The show, dubbed "Henry's Film Corner," premieres December 4th. Rollins and his guests -celebs and "ordinary" people- will comment on and debate movies, showbiz and film culture. The pilot episode featured Rob Zombie, Rollin's mail carrier Raul and discussion about Akira Kurosawa. IFC marketers are promoting the series as "Ebert & Roeper" meet "Real Time with Bill Maher."
We may be in the minority here, but we'll pass. To us, it's just a live-action version of "Thugs On Film," Mondo Media's old web series. We're sure Rollins and co will be hilarious riffing on the latest Hollywood crap, but, really, isn't this just shooting fish in a barrel?
Not that Rollins cares, but we wonder if SoCal's old school hardcore DIY ethos extends to branding oneself as a corporate culture savant.
How would the first punks of Western civilization, the dadaists, have responded to 21st Century hyper-consumer culture?
Would Dada drummer Richard Huelsenbeck have embraced the temptation to abandon his practice as a Jungian psychoanalyst to become the "spokesman" for some car manufacturer seeking "edginess" to capture the jaded attention of Generation Whathaveyou?
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If somehow Rollins of the Black Flag era could be bottled and not allowed to grow older, you might be able to get what you ask for.
I've seen Rollins perform in the real punk era and recently on his spoken word tours.
Is he the same man? Yes.
Has time and life changed him? Yes.
If he still acted as he did in the 80s today, he'd be a freak. Normal people change over time.
Your expectation that Rollins forgo any other work than being a full time punk rocker and be OK with living in a van again is silly.
Rollins should do what he wants to do and if we don't like it, it's too fucking bad for us. He ain't our monkey. That's being hardcore. Do what YOU want and not giving a fuck what other people think.
Being hardcore is not about conforming to a specific hardcore lifestyle that's called out on a web site. It's about NOT conforming to anyone's choices but your own.
That's great and all, but I lost all respect for Hank when I read about how hardcore he was back in the day, tossing Kira Roessler to a crowd of angry skinheads who tried to attack him and letting them beat the shit out of her instead.
If throwing an unarmed woman to a bunch of angry assholes with weapons is hardcore, he's the most hardcore asshole out there.
I guess I could post some sarcastic retort, but i'm not that kind of Angeleno.
hmm, that's an interesting observation, Michael. Is the punk ethos just a youthful pose that diminishes and ultimately disappears with maturation? So does that mean that now that as first punk generation grows middle aged, it willingly abandon some of the ideals they cultivated in youth? Will most of its firmist acolytes become like the very hippies their younger selves despised for turning their backs on their ideals. Punk is just a lifestyle fad to grow out of?
Gee, we grew up to become just like them: Hypocrites.
I thought DIY was do it all yourself-don't wait for some corporation or the establishment to hand you the mike and express yourself in the way you want-it was about the process of putting out your stuff in an anti corporate manner, not the ultimate product which is usually crap anyway.
We always knew Rollins was a sell out and entertainer in the corporate sense from day one. That's not disputed and he can do what he wants. I'm just wondering about the others who subscribed to the lifestyle. Although Jello Biafra is just as self-aggrandizing as Rollins, I respect him more and think he's been idealistically consistent (thought his ex bandmates sure would disagree). I also always thought Joe Strummer and Billy Bragg kept the ethos going even into middle age and death.
I just think the DIY ethic should be more, can be more, than sucking at the corporate teat (and believe don't let the "Indepdendent" name in IFC fool you, it's owned by NBC). Launching your own pirate cable station and building a network of viewers to hear you spout off on what frys your middle aged burger is DIY, no matter what your age, IMO.
and before the nits start picking at me: I know IFC is owned by Cablevision subsidiary Rainbow Media Enterprises...my bad. NBC used to own a stake but that's old news.
Anything's better than the botoxy goof with the liberty-spike for a soul patch(Dude, get a chin implant-your plastic surgeon will give you the details) who hosts that public access game show, ack! Can't they just show more of "Dinner For 5"?